El Cerrito High Archiving Project Rocks On With Garage Bands Fundraiser

Before the old El Cerrito High buildings were torn down in 2005, a group of alumni, students, parents, teachers and other community members got together to ensure that the history of the old campus was preserved. They collected memorabilia and threw a three-day party to celebrate the school’s history and bid the old buildings farewell.

Councilwoman Janet Abelson said the El Cerrito High School Archiving Project members had so much fun they decided to keep meeting, and they drew so many donations they were able to start a scholarship fund.

More than six years after the demolition of the old campus, the project is still going strong and shows no sign of losing its knack for showing the community a good time.  Saturday night the committee brought together a mix of alumni, staff and other supporters from across the generations for a at the . The party was a fundraiser for the project’s scholarship program and for continuing to develop and maintain the museum incorporated in the new campus.

Patricia Durham, president of the executive board of the project, announced that the group plans to make it an annual event.

“It’s bringing the community together,” Durham told Patch during the event, and, she said, the students need the scholarship support more than ever.

Another board member, Joanne Steck-Bayat, estimated about 100 people attended and about $4,000 was raised.

Abelson predicted the event will grow in future years as people realize it is a great opportunity to get together and reminisce with people they know.

Bands featuring alumni, a teacher, and a former West Contra Costa Unified School District board member provided entertainment for the evening.

Larry Lynch of the class of 1967, the evening’s most famous performer, agreed that the event was a great opportunity to see old friends. “It’s like family. It brings us together again.” 

Lynch performed in the final set of the night with the Nite Owls, joined by other 1967 graduates Dave Terry, Scott MacKenzie, and Tom Haber. Their regular keyboardist, Jon Kennedy, was unavailable for the night so Bob Carter of the Class of 1970 stood in.

After playing together in high school the members of the Nite Owls went off and did other things. In Lynch’s case that included playing with the Greg Kihn Band, which had hits like "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)” in the early 1980s. Lynch now runs a carpet cleaning business but in recent years has gotten together with the Nite Owls a couple times a year for events like Saturday’s.

“It’s great to get together and reminisce. “

Those who stayed to the end of the evening were treated to a selection of classic tunes by the Nite Owls as well as a performance of “The Breakup Song.”

The other performers’ celebrity may be more local in nature but was just as enthusiastically celebrated. In addition to the Nite Owls, the party included performances by another El Cerrito High band from the late 1960s, the Sundowners, whose members include 1968 graduates Steve Kirby, Rob Mathews, and Tandy Centers, who were joined by 1969 graduate Scott Houser. El Cerrito High science teacher Bob Fabini joined the group on harmonica and vocals for part of the set.

The third band, Jumpin’ Fish, includes former school board member Glen Price, his brother Jared and nephew Aaron, as well as Adam Balm and Philip Knudsen.